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ACTIVE CRISIS

How to report a scam text message

You're in the right place. In the US, UK, and Canada, you can forward a scam text to 7726 (spells "SPAM") — your carrier uses it to block the sender. If you tapped a link or entered information, start with Step 1. If you only received the text, go straight to Step 2.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Step 1 — If you tapped a link or entered information, act now

Do this now: If you tapped a link and entered a password, change that password immediately on the real site — and on any other site where you use the same password. If you entered payment details, call your bank now.

If you tapped a link but did not enter anything, the risk is lower — but run a malware scan on your phone and check your accounts for unusual activity.

Important: Do not tap any links in the scam text again. Do not reply to the sender. Replying confirms your number is active and can lead to more scam contact.

Step 2 — Forward the text to 7726 (US, UK, and Canada)

Do this now (US, UK, and Canada): Forward the scam text to 7726. This shortcode spells "SPAM" on a phone keypad and is operated by mobile carriers in the US (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others), the UK (all major carriers), and Canada (Bell, Rogers, Telus, and others). Your carrier will ask you to confirm the sender's number, then use the report to block the sender and alert other customers.

To forward on most phones: press and hold the message → tap "Forward" → send to 7726. The process is free and does not count against your message allowance.

Important: 7726 works in the US, UK, and Canada. It is not used everywhere — if you are in another country (for example Australia, which uses 0429 999 888), use the country-specific route below.

Step 3 — Report to the national authority in your country

Forwarding to 7726 handles the carrier side. Reporting to a national authority helps law enforcement track smishing campaigns.

  • US: Forward to 7726, then report at reportfraud.ftc.gov (FTC) or ic3.gov (FBI)
  • UK: Forward to 7726, then report at actionfraud.police.uk. You can also forward the text to the NCSC at report@phishing.gov.uk if the scam arrived via email-to-SMS.
  • Australia: Report at scamwatch.gov.au. Forward the text to 0429 999 888 (the ACMA Spam SMS reporting number).
  • Canada: Report at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. Forward the text to 7726 — major Canadian carriers (Bell, Rogers, Telus) also participate in the 7726 scheme.
  • Denmark: Report to politi.dk (anmeld). There is no national SMS shortcode equivalent to 7726 in Denmark — report to your carrier directly via their customer service, and to your bank via NemID/MitID netbank if any financial information was shared.
  • Europe: Report to your national consumer protection authority or local police. Contact your carrier directly to block the sender.

Step 4 — Block the sender on your phone

Do this now: After forwarding, block the sender's number on your phone. On iPhone: open the message → tap the sender's name or number → tap the info icon → "Block this Caller." On Android: open the message → tap the three-dot menu → "Block number."

Blocking does not prevent the scammer from sending texts from a different number, but it stops further contact from that specific number and reduces the chance of accidentally tapping a link in a follow-up message.

You're safer once you've done this: You forwarded the text to 7726 (US/UK/Canada) or your national authority. You blocked the sender. If you tapped a link, your passwords are changed and your bank is aware. You can now delete the message.

What happens next

Your carrier uses 7726 reports to identify and block numbers sending scam texts at scale. You will not receive a personal response, but your report contributes to blocking the campaign.

If you entered any personal or financial information, monitor your accounts for unusual activity over the next 90 days.

Related situations

This page was last reviewed: June 27, 2026.
Crisis pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.